The comic was talking to movie maker Kevin Smith, broadcaster Tavis Smiley and two political pundits about the treatment of women in Muslim countries, like Egypt, when an unseen man started yelling from the audience.

Maher and his guests attempted to laugh off the interruption, but the protester started yelling at security staff as they tried to evict him from the studio, stating, "Do not touch me; that's battery... I will leave of my own accord." But he continued shouting at Maher, apparently upset by comments the comic had made about the 9/11 terrorist attacks on a previous show.

The host joked, "That went better in rehearsals," and then added, "I once had to go into that crowd and throw a guy out myself - and I think I might have to do it again."